Sketch plan for former Arrowwood property gets positive reception from village board
January 4, 2024 at 1:51 a.m.
Billionaire real estate operator and entrepreneur Charles Cohen came to Rye Brook Village Hall Tuesday evening, Dec. 12 with the sketch plan for his proposed development of the property that once was Doral Arrowwood Hotel and Conference Center at 975 Anderson Hill Rd.
His attorney, David Steinmetz of the White Plains law firm Zarin & Steinmetz, LLP, who made the written request for the appearance at the Rye Brook Board of Trustees meeting, kept Cohen at or near the lectern, as the public got its first glimpse of what Cohen promised would be a world class destination for regional residents and beyond—in the style of a major Adirondack camp house in Westchester.
All rooms in the hotel and conference center would face a newly enhanced central lake (now a pond) with an extended dock to be used for yoga practice.
“The idea is to create a transformative experience so folks don’t have to drive Upstate or to another city. We want them to be here,” said Cohen.
Aerial view of proposed development at 975 Anderson Hill Rd. looking southeast.Concept design rendering by WATG
Inspired by his visits to the Beaver Creek resort in Colorado, Cohen promised a comparable 77-acre complex with a high-ceilinged main entrance that would include, according to his written presentation:
*220 hotel rooms
*115 residences
*1,309 parking spaces, above and underground
*A Wellness & Longevity Center with adjacent Medical Office Buildings (two 25,000-square-foot wings). Cohen said he wants to partner with a major medical system like Yale New Haven or Weill Cornell to run the medical and wellness facilities, which he hopes to restrict to paying guests.
*Amenities including the largest ballroom in Westchester County, three restaurants, tennis courts, a yoga retreat adjoining the expanded central lake, a Wellness Garden, a main lodge pool and a family swimming pool, a thorough reworking of existing parking facilities with no expansion of existing parking lots and professional redesign of all remaining outdoor fields and walking paths by a team from EDSA (Edward Durrell Stone Associates)—best known locally for their work on the Donald M. Kendall Sculpture Gardens at PepsiCo headquarters in Purchase.
“What I think is important is that in my experience with Arrowwood the ceiling was very low, I felt I was going to hit my head,” said Cohen during his presentation in explaining his concept. “Going skiing out West, the lodge would have a loft. The idea is to walk in and have a sense of comfort, a lodge-like feeling. You’re in a safe place, a little bit of a cocoon. It’s the A shape of the Adirondack style.”
Cohen emphasized that he wanted to be “good neighbors” not just with the Doral Greens Homeowners Association (next door neighbors to the proposed complex) but to the Village of Rye Brook and all its residents.
Mayor Jason Klein stated there will be a thorough review of Cohen’s plans by the Planning and Zoning boards and pointed out that Cohen was aware of the Village law requiring 10% of all new housing be affordable. How Cohen will meet that requirement will be clear once he files his plans for Village review. Cohen said he and his team haven’t decided whether the residences will be for sale or rent.
Charles Cohen speaks with audience members after he and his attorney presented his concept plan for the former Doral Arrowwood site at the Rye Brook Board of Trustees meeting on Dec. 12.By Dick Hubert
“The plan is for it to be for people who don’t want a house and want hotel services; your bed is made, your laundry is done, you can have dinner in your apartment,” said Cohen. “It’s a Rye Brook home.”
The residential component should have little effect on the Blind Brook School District, he explained, although the specifics about that topic will come later.
Cohen and the Doral Greens Homeowners Association are still working through their full understanding and agreement to EDSA’s plans, which include the former Arrowwood Golf Course that in its “back to nature” or “rewilding” presence will wind itself in and around Doral Greens on what were holes one through five and, in EDSA’s words, “restore the ecosystem that once existed.” Landscaping and maintenance are part of that agreement still to be fully negotiated.
Looking for direction to proceed
“We are hoping to get enough of a nod from the Board of Trustees so we can proceed,” said Steinmetz. And they got that nod.
“It would make Rye Brook a destination,” said Trustee David Heiser.
“I think it’s a wonderful project,” said Trustee Sal Morlino. “Let the games begin. It looks like a substantial project to say the least.”
“It’s very attractive,” said Trustee Susan Epstein. “It will enhance Rye Brook and our reputation.”
“It definitely reminds me of skiing,” said Trustee Stephanie Fischer. “I think it will be a great asset to the village. I will think of skiing every time I enter.”
“The whole idea is to be transported,” Cohen responded.
“Do you think you will have memberships available to the public?” asked Fischer.
“I’m cautious,” Cohen replied. “The last thing I want is to have someone who is a hotel guest or condo owner not be able to get on a treadmill.”
Robin Markell, who said she was the fourth person to move into Doral Greens, said she always had the hotel across the street and loved it. “I look forward to having this destination community. We look forward to having this in our backyard.” For her, Cohen’s vision can’t materialize fast enough.
Phyllis Milton, a Doral Greens resident for 28 years who is on the homeowners’ association board, said she represented 138 homeowners who are very interested in what is happening on the property. “We have told them Doral’s needs and what we’d like to see. We liked what we saw. We think it will be good for the community and good for us.”
Charles Cohen and his team have already begun demolition of the old Doral Arrowwood Hotel and Conference Center on Anderson Hill Road, as seen by passersby on Saturday, Dec. 30.By Dick Hubert
“What’s there for the community?” asked longtime Planning Board member John Grzan. “For example, I’m a golfer. What are you offering?”
“Access to restaurants, ballrooms for events, weddings and other celebrations that are going to other places,” Cohen responded.
Grzan wanted to know if he could walk there and was told it would be a private development.
“I think the public likes to know if there is any giveback to the village,” Grzan persisted. “We are an all-built-out community and don’t have many amenities.”
“This community is crying out for tax dollars, especially hotel tax dollars, and stimulating the local economy,” said attorney Steinmetz. “Those are givebacks to a local community.” He added that Rye Brook was also going to do pretty well with recreation fees and building fees.
Next steps
The next steps in the Rye Brook review process include Cohen’s filing of a rezoning application (to be reviewed by the Zoning Board of Appeals and then the Trustees), concept, site and architectural plans (to be reviewed by the Planning Board and then the Trustees), and State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) documentation (for everyone’s study).
“We’re ready to go,” said Steinmetz. “We all have our work cut out for us.”
Cohen hopes to be demolishing all buildings on the property—the old hotel and conference center—within the next few months. Klein said the Village’s building, police and fire personnel are going to be glad to see the existing hotel building taken down as soon as possible, and the property owners have already applied for demolition permits.
In fact, a walk by the property on Saturday, Dec. 30 confirmed that demolition had begun.
Residents of Rye Brook, Port Chester, and beyond interested in seeing Cohen’s sketch plans and his personal presentation should go to the Village website meeting/video section of the Dec. 12 meeting, which can be found by clicking here at westmorenews.com (https://ryebrook.civicweb.net/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Id=6962)
Rendering looking out from the lodge over the complex’s west side showing the pool, lake and yoga practice area.Concept design rendering by WATG
Comments:
You must login to comment.